“Gentlemen, I hope everyone can face reality clearly. The wave of charity created by Golden Wind is rolling towards us with unstoppable momentum.”

At the same time!

Neon!

Komera Digital Entertainment Corporation!

Top-floor conference room!

Moriya Tetsuya, sitting with his head lowered, spoke up:

“If you have been following the players' word-of-mouth trends recently, you won't find it hard to notice some signs,”

“Now, players are already comparing us with Golden Wind,”

“Everyone here is on the same side. I think we shouldn't be evasive; let’s be straightforward—”

Looking around the conference room.

Moriya completely ignored the dark expression of President Kamikoshi and spoke fearlessly:

“Because for the sake of profit, we kicked away our partners and tried to maximize returns.”

“But what did Golden Wind do at this moment?”

“They are working hard for social welfare and charity, even at a cost, publicly donating all sales revenue.”

Saying this,

Moriya shook his head slightly, his brow tightly furrowed.

“Gentlemen, we betrayed trust for profit while they sacrificed profit for charity. Now, who stands at the high ground of public opinion is obvious, isn’t it?”

Hearing this,

All the executives and Silent Hill project leaders present lowered their heads.

Although!

Moriya’s words were harsh, almost like killing others’ ambitions to humble themselves.

But everyone knew Moriya was right.

Setting aside whether Golden Wind’s charity campaign was deliberately targeting them or if someone was behind it,

There was no doubt—Golden Wind succeeded.

Now, Golden Wind not only stands at the pinnacle of public opinion but even dares to point fingers at them from that position!

After a long pause!

President Kamikoshi finally asked, “So, according to Executive Director Moriya, what should we do?”

Everyone looked at Moriya.

And Moriya did not hesitate at all:

“Start the marketing campaign early.”

Hiss—

Once these words came out!

Even President Kamikoshi gasped sharply!

Starting the marketing campaign early!

It sounds simple!

But they all knew, just this one sentence would increase their marketing costs by several million dollars!

Currently!

Silent Hill’s development was nearing completion, with a total cost of about 15 million dollars.

Normally, marketing costs would roughly equal development costs, also about 15 million dollars.

But because of the rough start,

The reckless move of kicking out Golden Wind caused considerable public opinion troubles.

Therefore, they needed to spend at least another 5 million dollars in marketing to patch the reputation gaps.

Marketing costs rose to 20 million dollars.

And now, because Golden Wind launched a massive charity campaign, further shaking the reputation they had barely stabilized,

They had to spend even more to advance and extend the marketing period.

A slight tremor of hesitation, and another 2 to 3 million dollars went in.

All in all!

Marketing costs for Silent Hill had already reached 22 million dollars, pushing total costs close to 40 million dollars!

Most importantly!

This money could not be spared!

Everyone present was no fool; they all clearly understood—

If they didn’t start marketing early now, while this wave of public opinion hadn’t yet exploded, quickly snuff it out at its infancy and boost Silent Hill’s hype,

Then by early next month, when the discussion flares up again, they would have to pour in even more marketing funds to plug the holes!

By then!

It wouldn’t be a matter of just throwing in a few million dollars to fix it!

Unless!

“Unless we abandon investment in the Silent Hill project now and follow the normal marketing process,”

Moriya said:

“After all, when the project was first approved, we only regarded it as a supporting subsidiary game,”

“Stopping losses in time is still a viable path for us.”

Moriya, clear-headed as ever.

It must be said!

Moriya Tetsuya, who once made Gu Sheng extremely envious and even now hasn’t given up on poaching him, was extremely precise in his judgment of the game market situation!

Moreover, his loyalty was shockingly high!

Although he despised and even looked down on everything Komera had done on the Silent Hill project!

Yet!

He could still keep his head clear and try his utmost to save this IP, to save its profitability!

I despise you, but it doesn’t stop me from defending you to the death.

Such character and professional ethics were not something ordinary people could achieve.

And now!

Moriya already sensed the wrong signs.

Whether To the Moon was a project Gu Sheng deliberately made to target Komera or not, it had already affected Silent Hill’s, even Komera’s entire reputation.

What if!

Golden Wind still had more cards to play?

Then what would Komera do? What about Silent Hill? Should they continue investing?

Not continuing?

You already threw in 40 million dollars. Can you just stop?

Continuing?

Then 50 million, 80 million, or even 100 million more would be at stake, purely gambling fate?

Moriya’s worries were not unfounded!

Counting it up!

It had already been several months since they kicked out Gu Sheng and ended cooperation with Golden Wind.

During this long period, what had Komera been doing?

They were developing Silent Hill, a game costing 15 million dollars.

So what had Golden Wind been doing?

Developing To the Moon? A game costing only 70 to 80 thousand dollars?

Obviously!

This was not the actual efficiency of Golden Wind!

Such a pixel-style mini-game, if Golden Wind’s project department fully engaged, plus outsourcing support, could be finished in about half a month!

Even taking a huge step back!

The script for this game was indeed excellent and polished over time!

A month’s development cycle was completely enough for them!

So what was Golden Wind doing for the rest of the time?

On vacation?

That sounded ridiculous!

Wasn’t this suspicious?

Therefore!

Faced with the current predicament, Moriya had only two suggestions!

Either start marketing immediately to minimize losses.

Or brake in time, give up all hope for Silent Hill, and stop investing more!

Marketing costs remain at 15 million; do whatever you want.

Basically treating Silent Hill as a lost cause.

After all, Komera had many games ready to launch: shooters, racing, sports. No need to hang on to this single tree.

“So, Executive Director Moriya… which path do you prefer?”

After hearing Moriya Tetsuya’s words, Kamikoshi pondered for a moment and asked.

“I remember I told you before, Golden Wind has had no official announcements or development plans since the PT project. That was abnormal,”

Moriya said:

“And now with To the Moon appearing, I feel even more uneasy,”

“There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘The one who seizes the opportunity is a hero,’”

“It means that anyone who correctly recognizes the situation, whether advancing or retreating, is a hero,”

“So…”

Moriya did not directly state his stance, just tilted his head.

But his attitude was already clear.

He sensed danger.

Moriya Tetsuya wanted to quit because outside was all Gu Sheng.

But when these words came out, Yamamoto Tsunashiro couldn’t sit still!

No! This project must not be abandoned!

After all, if this project succeeded, he would become the biggest winner of this new game release period, the only true god among the three peak studios!

One man controlling two blockbuster projects, unmatched through history, standing at the top alone!

Yes.

Komera had many studios large and small.

Among the many studios, three long-established ones ranked at the top—

Yamamoto Studio, Koizumi Studio, Takasugi Studio.

The three studios were at the same level, similar scale, and enjoyed roughly equal resources. They were all veteran teams in Komera and usually competed against each other.

Known outside as the “Three Peak Studios of Neon.”

The Big Three.

For many years, the Big Three had competed openly and secretly.

This time, Yamamoto Tsunashiro finally seized the opportunity, combining shooting and racing to claim the lion’s share of marketing resources with the game Yakuza Frenzy.

He also “advised” to kick out Golden Wind and Gu Sheng, monopolizing the fiery horror IP Silent Hill.

Holding two potential blockbusters in hand!

Once successful!

In Komera, he would soar freely, dominate the Big Three!

Moreover, in two years, Kamikoshi would retire to the sidelines.

By then, finding such an opportunity again would be as hard as climbing to the sky.

A chance not to be missed!

So, Yamamoto Tsunashiro had to do his best to protect Silent Hill’s resources!

No matter the cost, he would continue investing, full throttle, racing to the top of the Big Three!

“Executive Director Moriya is being overly cautious,”

Yamamoto said:

“Besides, even if Golden Wind has more tricks and keeps them secret, so what?”

“Silent Hill’s IP is firmly in our hands. They wouldn’t dare make similar titles unless they want to sue us for copyright,”

“I believe they’re not stupid enough to fight a losing battle,”

“That means they’d have to start from scratch,”

“No prior hype, no groundwork, everything from zero,”

“The only reliance would be that hollow ‘King of Horror Games’ aura,”

“But in front of our marketing campaign, that faint aura means nothing.”

Sigh.

What a fool.

Moriya sighed inwardly, cursing Yamamoto’s stupidity.

Even now, he still thought Gu Sheng’s ‘King of Horror Games’ aura was empty.

He refused to admit, or even acknowledge, the existence of genius.

He lived entirely in his own world, firmly believing his experience and status as one of the Big Three’s directors made him stronger than Gu Sheng.

Shaking his head,

Moriya ignored him and looked at the real power-holder, President Kamikoshi.

After a moment of silence,

Kamikoshi shook his head: “We can’t retreat.”

Damn.

As soon as these words came out, Moriya closed his eyes.

The president was clearly on the same side as Yamamoto.

No need to ask.

Regarding Silent Hill’s project profits, the two probably had their profit-sharing already arranged.

The retiring old man chasing profit, the ambitious middle-aged man seeking fame.

One was company president, the helmsman; the other, a Big Three director and designer.

The abyss of reckless gambling had already opened.

And at the very bottom of the abyss, perhaps Gu Sheng was already prepared, waiting for these two fools blinded by fame and fortune to offer up their souls.

“Fine.”

Moriya nodded, saying no more.

Because he knew that now, whatever he said was just nonsense in the ears of those two.

Their interests had already diverged.

No point in arguing.

Moriya raised his hand: “Then I agree to increase investment and start Silent Hill’s marketing early.”

Hearing this,

Kamikoshi and Yamamoto both breathed a sigh of relief, showing satisfied smiles.

Then Kamikoshi raised his hand:

“Executive Director Moriya has expressed his position. What about everyone else?”

Clatter—

Everyone raised their hands.

Unanimous vote passed.

An additional 3 million dollars approved.

Like a car suddenly accelerating.

Without any warning.

On Friday.

Silent Hill announced development completion and began global concentrated promotion!!!

……

“Breaking news! Komera announces Silent Hill development complete, to release mid-next month!”

“Finally coming! Silent Hill development finished! Launching next month!”

“Silent Hill release date announced! Horror game fans ecstatic!”

[It’s here! The psychological horror masterpiece Silent Hill, hailed as the ‘Savior of Horror Games,’ finally revealed its release date: worldwide simultaneous launch on the 15th of next month!]

[Developed independently by Neon’s Komera Digital Entertainment Company, Silent Hill’s development team is Yamamoto Studio, one of Komera’s ‘peak studios’...]

[The official game will continue the suspense left by PT’s ending. The new protagonist will experience an even more bizarre horror journey in the eerie Silent Hill town, seeking the truth.]

“Oh God, I’ve finally waited for its completion! I can’t wait!”

“Psychological horror epic! Trusting the experienced Mr. Yamamoto Tsunashiro, it will surely outperform PT!”

“40 million dollars invested! Wow! This must be Komera’s most expensive horror game ever!”

“……”

For a time!

Media news, reviews, and player discussions erupted everywhere. Silent Hill’s popularity rapidly skyrocketed!

Moreover!

It was clear Komera spent a fortune.

Because whether official media or various comments, they deliberately avoided negative reviews, even carefully sidestepped the PT demo.

Komera was trying hard to brand Silent Hill as a ‘completely independent’ new-generation horror masterpiece designed by a ‘famous game designer.’

Even

Mainstream large forums’ player discussions were controlled by Komera.

All voices of Fvk KOMINA were suppressed.

Keywords like ‘Gu Sheng,’ ‘Golden Wind,’ ‘King of Horror,’ were almost extinct.

Everything looked like a peaceful, joyous celebration with players eagerly anticipating.

“General.”

Meanwhile, in Binjiang No.1 villa’s penthouse.

Shen Wanlin fired a volley at Gu Sheng’s vanguard, aiming straight at the veteran Gu Sheng:

“So? Have they made a move?”

“Knight’s move,”

Gu Sheng nodded, turning his horse’s head lightly to defuse Shen Wanlin’s fierce attack:

“Just as you thought, they advanced the marketing campaign early. Now it’s an all-out propaganda blitz…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com